Booking and Selection Process for the annual Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2013 organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, has begun. The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is open to all Indian citizens, above 18 years of age and not attained 70 years, who wish to proceed to Kailash Manasarovar in China for religious purposes. Applications are available now.

Last Date of Receiving Application is March 11, 2013.

Last Date of Online Application is March 4, 2013.

The Yatra in 2013 is from June 9, 2013 to September 9, 2013.

The application forms and other details are available online at the Ministry of External Affairs website. (The documents provided here are in pdf format and you will need pdf reader installed to view it).

How to apply online and other details regarding online applicaiton can be found here. Last date of online application is March 4, 2013. - Online application.

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in Hinduism

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra conducted by the Government of India includes visit to Mount Kailash – the abode of Lord Shiva – and Manasarovar Lake. According to Hindu scriptures, those who take a dip in the Manasarovar and complete the parikrama (circumambulate) around Mount Kailash are absolved of their sins and are liberated from the cycle of birth and death. They are ultimately united with Brahman (symbolically represented by Mount Kailash or Shiva).

The Selection Process for Yatra

The selection of Yatris will be done by Ministry of External Affairs of India through a computer-generated random gender-balanced selection process. Selected persons will be informed by speed post about their inclusion in a particular batch 3-4 weeks before their scheduled departure. Spouses will be automatically selected (provided this fact is clearly indicated in the relevant column of the application form) subject to clearing the medical test. Selected applicants will be required to confirm their participation in a particular batch by sending a non-refundable demand draft of Rs. 5,000/- in favor of KMVN to Ministry of External Affairs by a specific deadline.

Total Cost of the Yatra

Rs. 32,000/- (inclusive of Service Tax) to be paid to Kumaon
Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) out of which Rs 5,000/- is a non-refundable deposit
Rs. 3,100/- to be paid to Delhi Heart and Lung Institute to covercosts of
medical examination / tests at Delhi. Additional amount if further
medicals tests are needed. In case the applicant is required by the medical
authorities to undergo a Stress Echo Test, an additional Rs. 2,500/- would be
charged for that particular test from the yatri concerned.

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Yatra is extremely arduous (more so than the Vaishnodevi / Amarnath routes), involves trekking at high altitudes up to 19,500 feet, under inhospitable conditions including extreme cold and rugged terrain and may prove hazardous for those who are not physically or medically fit. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation has recognized the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra as a trekking expedition. There is a considerable element of risk to life and property.